Storing Chocolate

In 'What Is Boxing Day?' under Featured Articles someone asked how long can chocolate be frozen. Chocolate should not be frozen. When you thaw it out it develops 'bloom', that white/yellow coating. Bloom is not harmful, nor does it affect taste and it will disappear if you melt the chocolate. But it does look unappetizing! Chocolate doesn't need to be frozen anyway. If you kept it in a cool, dark place it will last about a year.

I've found that if chocolate is not allowed to get too warm before freezing, it won't bloom. Where I live, the summers are so hot that is unrealistic to keep unused chocolate out--no place is "cool," even our cold water runs warm. So I refrigerate or freeze any extra chocolate. It keeps it usable and does not get that "old" taste or grainy texture. Here in the country, it is unrealistic to run to the store for a single ingredient every time one wants to bake. This may not be a perfect solution, but it works.